New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-07
WITH THE HEAVY GUNS.
ARTILLERY PRACTICE AT WEST PoINT.
CADETS PREPARING FOR THEIR GRADUATIoNS-
MIR cHmDss GIFT TO GRANT HALL.

| CADETS PREPARING FOR THEIR GRADUAIIONS-
| CHILDs's GIFT To GRANT HALL
WRsT.POINr, June 6.--Sunshine has dawned nc
last on West Point. About o'clock the sun broke
through the Italian haze that had been dusking the
Imitation Italian landscape OF mountain and riyerand
the guests OF the post reioiced with exceeding great
| joy. look OF calm content settled down over the
smoO hshaven features of each o. the cadets who shV-
cred all day Yesterday in white duck aud the
consciousness OF being woiully in advance of the sea-
aud the promise OF fair weather for the rest OF the
week made glad the heart OF Landlord Craney OF the
little hotel on the Point The FIRST official act of the
cadet, visible to the tourists eye, is guard mount
The band arranees itself the plain in picturesque
| group about 7:l5 The cadets who are detailed
TOR guard duty come out OF the barracks and form III
line under the row OF trees that skirt the southern
| edge oil the parade ground. The drum major OPP
pressed BY the weight of his dignity ana his bearsn
cap, gives his baton suggestive twr the band bursts
into music, and the lines OF white trousers come
cleaning the dewy grass In rythm with the bra
zen harmony. IL prodhc curious effect upon the
eve that long inc OF white duck moving forward with
the steady, mOdulatng movement OF a ioamy breaker
coming up the sands OF a wide. smooth beach.
Oh hose OF white duck !" sad an enthusiast
tic admircr Of the 1eldried cadets this morning.
When SMUT my eyes to say my prayers can see
the IL glimmering STILL"
When the guard reaches the centre of the plain its
members put through the manual by the geant
The old officer OF the day. who is just going of duty,
and the officer who is TO relieve him. stand In
satucsque silence at the edge of the parade ground,
hanked by the few spectators who have had the moral
courage get mp early and view the miniature review
The orders given out the Navy lines of white dis
appear toward the barracks, and 1t is safe tor the
military mind &c assume that the guard is saely and
correctly mounted and that the post secure from
foes without disorders within for another day. In
tie the Board of Visitors, Official and other
wise, treated exhibition of military heavy
work. The big guns that frown over the earthworks
bordering the river on the north shore OF the Point
were got into gear, and the cadets of three years
standing and familiarity with ordnance banged away
at white target painted on the mountain SIDE The
spectators lined the three four santing iootpahs
that the hillside AID tried TO their ears
while they to owed the flight OF the cannon balls with
their eyes The cadets tugged and swung the 3UO-
pound proeces about stifened into rect, and never
moved n muscle or shut an eye as the heavy charge
exploded with hunderous roar and the big gun gave
n mighty kick like Mugwump at n nominating con
vcntion. AS Cadet Gunner Wilhelm, IN charge OF the
piece at the extreme lett sighted and hred at The word
OF command. the rocks woud Il, ID spnters leaving
big spot of gray IN the white face Of the target aud
by the time the battery had fired several rounds there
precious littie whitcwash left that mountain
side. The hiteen-inch smooth bore guns sent n bill
400 pounds in weight, driven by charge o. forty
charge possible m Lieutenant Price, who commands
the battery. confines himself 10 that limit to avoid
possible injury from giaucinE shot rot accuracy
sixty pounds IL necessary while Working charge Is
100 and in service they Iun mp To 100. The eight
inch rifles used charge OF twenty-five Iound- OF pow
der and fired cOnca! proiectie Every tlme tue III
teeninch thundcrers went OF 40 cost the Government
$50. The drill was without noticeable error other
than the failure OF OF The big gums 10 explode at
the first trial. due 20 defect In the primer.
George W. ChIids. president OF the ionrd/f VISIT.
ors. returned to-day. To his many gitts TO men aud
institutions Mr. Chls has added another fine por-
trait of General Grant which adorns the Moss Hail.
Mess Hall no longer but Grant HALL IN keeping
with the following order;
HEMQuAHAss UNITED STATS MIiUtEr Ac'nrMT-
orlers No 50.
he Known oacaiy As Grant Hall" In honor of The great
graduate Of The Academy wno.e portrait present 10 Mss
the hall as a gallery for the portraits 81 graiuates
". C. BEowS. flFst Lieutenant let Cavalry. Aiiutant
This useful building. formerly SD terrible IN its
unaltcrablc wilderness Of much whitowash has been
papcrcd and turned into quite art gallery Besides
Mr. Childss gift portraits OF Generals schofeId sedg
wick. John T. Reynolds, ord Wid McComb gaze down
upon the cadet tnty make way With tie good thing,
that Major Spurgn provides for them.
The first class nearly through their examinations
and the ratlng words Of the young Adjuiun VIII then
let each know his fate whether Pc be- hrst or last,
whcfhcr-awfui thougbt!-he VIII graduate ~ all
The galopng rate AZ which the Adlutant reads orlcra
He could give Phillips Brooks heavy hnniicap and
then lead him down the homestretch of three coamn
Greek Lieutenant Brown SAYS that for the first week
In the Academy he and all HIS class Thought the
Adntan reading the orders IN French for the sake
OF practice To the battalion IN that language
There will be short hop from to $3.50 o'clock 10
evening and probably one ON wednesday even
Ing 10 break the ice and make the success Of the R
ating hop Friday night mole assured Ihete viii hc
german al tie hops this year General Merritt or
dorcd their dscOnnuance because tho strangers az hc
post did gct the chances 10 dance In german tai
they do I'm a hop The latter form OF social amusement
is its At West Point; 300 good walters ana
nothing hut round dances on the programme
Colonel Alexander :. Bacon chairman Of the Brooh-
Ign investigating Committee ~ the Legislature Is at the
Post. lie spoke az the Cadets prayer meeting last |
night giving all praise 10 the lives and recor4s of The
Academy graduates